The focus of the hockey world is Edmonton, and what will happen between the Oiler and Connor McDavid. However, there are several factors that have brought both sides to this, the biggest being the quotes from Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg.
We all remember that on August 13, 2024, St. Louis Blues sent two quotes, one to Holloway and the other to Broberg. Both are signed and accepted by the players. New Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman needs to decide within seven days whether to match the quotation sheet or get proper compensation from Blues and General Manager Doug Armstrong.
Can the Edmonton Oilers survive the loss of Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg?
We know how the scene is played, and the Oilers don’t match the quotes, losing two key young players who are essential in their first Stanley Cup final in 2024. But, further research, Bowman got caught in the CEO of Hockey’s CEO, Jeff Jackson.
Jackson put former general manager Ken Holland to his free agent years before the start of free agent agency in 2024 and prioritized signing senior players with young people in the system. It caused Dylan Holloway to rub the wrong way when he told Andy Strickland and Cam Janssen on CAM and Strick Podcast earlier this week.
“It’s the wrong way, Edmonton has very little thoughts about me in our contract negotiations. I’m an Alberta boy and I want to go back to the team we’ve gone too far, but once Edmonton doesn’t respond to that feeling, I’m on St. Louis,” Holloway said.
It’s not surprising to see these comments from Holloway.
The organization needs to make a decision about him long before these quotations come. Too many up and down
These guys need to be first-order business, but did not join GM on July 1 last year.
— Jim Burlinger (@jimbiringer) September 2, 2025
Edmonton Oilers have top four defenders in Philip Broberg
Holloway has all the rights to feel like this. Edmonton is chaotic in its development within the organization. Neither Jackson himself, the Netherlands or the staff, it seems that Holloway or Boulberg would have been believed in, or else these guys would have been given a contract on or before July 1, 2024.
This started on July 1 without GM. Jeff Jackson went crazy with the phone call, rather than caring for Broberg & Holloway, the Oilers would get slower and slower.
I mentioned @stevekouleas A few days ago he talked about oil work hours @siriusxmnhl. GM is required. …
— Jim Burlinger (@jimbiringer) April 24, 2025
As NHLrumors.com recorded these quotations last year, the Oilers should match those contracts. While Leon Draisaitl is a priority and the money may not have been available, Edmonton has lost two key depths on the roster and will play a crucial role this season.
Remember that during the course of last season, Broberg and Holloway were often summoned by the AHL, and neither player had a clear development plan. No player has come up with anything. You see everything the two players do in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, especially Broberg, who stepped up and performed well in the Stanley Cup final.
The powerful drama of this season has been passed to Blues. Holloway set a career-high with 63 points (26 goals and 37 assists) in 77 games, playing for the Blues for the first six minutes under head coach Jim Montgomery. Meanwhile, before being injured, Broberg proved why the Oilers needed to tuck into the Blues’ top four as seamlessly as he did. Broberg completed the season’s average ice time of about 16 minutes, recording a professional climax with 29 points (8 goals and 21 assists) in 68 games.
What the Edmonton Oilers offer Philip Broberg and its need for a better development path
Again, Jeff Jackson puts current oiler general manager Stan Bowman in a tough spot as he has no GM on July 1, 2024. Nevertheless, Edmonton’s misconduct against these players left bad taste in their mouths because they looked for opportunities and they felt they were given the opportunity elsewhere.
Just imagine if Broberg and Holloway were still on the team; maybe this Connor McDavid extension wouldn’t take too long because he knew the team was capable of going on.
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